From Beijing with its treasure trove of magnificent cultural and historical sites and treasures to Shanghai the pulsating heart of China’s economic development which stands internationally in our age as a beacon of progress and modernisation, your journey of discovery through China will be one of wonders. You will discover China’s history, its remarkable landscape around Lijiang, Guilin and through the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River. You will marvel at great monuments and feats of architecture as well as religious statuary and art from earlier ages. At the same time you will sample the richness of Chinese cuisine; enjoy cultural performances; relax on a luxurious river cruiser, admire the skill of Chinese acrobats and performers; and obtain insight into the life of minority peoples. This is the tour that will stimulate your mind and senses.
You transfer to your hotel.
After breakfast you will visit Tiananmen Square, look across the vast space to the Great Hall of the People and stand before the massive Tiananmen (Heavenly Peace) Gate bearing a huge portrait of Mao Zedong where he proclaimed the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on 1 October 1949. Lying behind is the Forbidden City, as the former imperial palace is called, where the magnificent marble courtyards, huge halls, gilded temples and ornate pavilions, the residence of the emperors and their families, are now open to your wonderment. After lunch there will be a rickshaw tour of Beijing’s old Hutong district, a fascinating maze of narrow alleys, old houses and hidden courtyards dating from Yuan Dynasty times (14th century) where people who live and work here welcome you into their homes. (B/L)
You will be taken north today to pace the ramparts of China’s famed Great Wall, originally constructed over 2000 years ago to keep northern invaders at bay. On the way back to your hotel, you will stop at the Ntional Olympic Stadium. This evening a traditional Peking Duck dinner completes a very special day. (B/L/D)
Today you will visit the Summer Palace, the famed pleasure gardens of the Qing emperors. Beautiful ornamental plantings, languid willows and painted pavilions surround a scenic lake, across which are enchanting views to the pagoda-capped Jade Spring Hill and the mountains beyond. Finally you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors, for the good of the empire, carried out the most important sacrifices and ceremonies of the year. Set in a huge park planted with conifers, the beautiful blue tiled buildings here represent the epitome of Ming architecture. (B/L)
Today you transfer to the airport for your flight to Xian
Over 1,000 years ago, Xian was the capital city of the Tang Dynasty and then the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the world. This afternoon walk along the top of the Xian City Wall which encircles the inner city.
This evening you will enjoy the lavish spectacle of the Tang Dynasty Dinner and Show. (B/L/D)
Today you will visit the remarkable archaeological site where the Terracotta Warriors who guarded the tomb of China’s great unifier and first emperor Qinshuang, who died in 210 BC, were discovered. View 6000 life-size terracotta warriors and their horses were buried, lined up facing east in battle array. (B/L)
Fly to Yichang to board your luxurious Yangtze River cruise ship. (B/D)
You cruise the famous Yangtze River in a superbly appointed cruise ship as it winds its way through the spectacular scenery of the Three Gorges. For many people, a cruise along this famous river is a lifelong dream. At 6300km, the Yangtze is the third longest river in the world, made famous today by its spectacular Three Gorges and the controversial Three Gorges Dam. The Three Gorges stretch for 193km, along which are many historic sites such as Baidi City, cliff inscriptions, suspended coffins of the Bai Tribe, tombs of the Han Dynasty (prior to 220 AD), and battlefields of the Three Kingdoms period. Where the river widens, terraced fields spread out up mountain slopes, interspersed with orange orchards and tea gardens. The mist-shrouded landscape of the Yangtze Gorges is as lovely as a traditional Chinese painting. Along the way you stop and visit interesting places. (All meals on board)
You disembark at Chongqing, an enormous modern city on the banks of the Yangtze, which is now the industrial and commercial hub of an independent municipality with a population of over 30 million. After check in at the hotel you will travel to Dazu, a small town 160km north-west of Chongqing, to view some of the finest Buddhist rock carvings in China. (B/L)
You transfer to the airport for your flight to Lijiang via Kunming, an 800 year-old city lying at 2400m at the foot of the imposing Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (B/L)
Today you drive north along the eastern flank of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Later you will visit the Black Dragon Pool Park with its interesting plants, architectural features and stunning mountain back drop, and go on to tour around the small town of Baisha, 8km north of Lijiang. Here there are several buildings with fascinating murals depicting Buddhist and Daoist scenes painted in the 15th and 16th centuries. You will also visit the Yuhu village to see examples of authentic ethnic cultures. (B)
This morning you will visit Mu’s Mansion in Lijiang. Terraced on the side of Lion Hill this interesting palace, Mu’s Mansion is where the Naxi Mu Clan ruled over the town for over 400 years. The afternoon will be free at leisure. (B)
You transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. (B)
Dominating the Yangtze Delta, Shanghai is the pulsating commercial heart of China. Walk along the famous Bund past the facades of the colonial buildings lining the Huangpu River and look across to the fantastic skyscrapers of the Pudong district on the opposite side. After lunch you will visit the beautifully maintained Yu Garden, an outstanding example of a classical garden dating from the 16th century, now surrounded by a bustling market area. Later you will ascend the Shanghai World Financial Centre Observatory Tower, one of the world’s tallest buildings, for an astonishing view over the whole city. This evening you will be entertained by one of Shanghai’s famous acrobatic troupes. (B/L)
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)
| Daily Departure | **** | ***** | ||
| Twin Share | Single Supplement | Twin Share | Single Supplement | |
| Apr, Nov 11 | $4210 | $970 | $4990 | $1698 |
| May, Sep-Oct 11 | $4445 | $1110 | $5325 | $1935 |
| Jun-Aug 11 | $4210 | $970 | $4990 | $1698 |
| Dec 11, Jan-Feb 12 | $3955 | $800 | $4705 | $1510 |
The prices of above tour are based on the basis of a minimum of 2 persons travelling together.
For more details on what is included in this tour please click here